New water task force meets in Bonita Springs

BONITA SPRINGS - A new water task force in Bonita Springs wants to get the water right in the city.

The first organizational Citizens Water Strategy Task Force meet Monday at Bonita Springs council chambers at City Hall.

“We need to make a difference and I hope that’s what comes out of this,” said Paul Pass, chairman of the water task board.

In November, the council created a seven-member water task force after a contentious public hearing where hundreds of Bonita Springs residents asked council to study potential water problems before opening the area up for development.

Bonita Springs City Manager Carl Schwing assured the new task force that the role of city staff is to assist them, not to “drive the train.”

“Our role is support you and the work that you will do over time,” he said. “We are here to assist you. We do not believe that it is predetermined.”

The new board discussed a possible mission statement, Florida’s public records and Sunshine Laws and what resources might be needed to assist in accomplishing their future goals, which were not set during the meeting.

Members were asked to submit their mission statement ideas to formulate a mission statement and goals to John Gucciardo, assistant city manager.

When speaking about possibly conducting further water studies, Pass said another study is not needed at this time.

“It’s hard for me to swallow when that information has already been paid for,” he told the group of more than a dozen people.

However, task force member Fred Forbes said he could not fully accept the recent Barraco report.

“I’m not against development, but I don’t’ want to see development until we get all this stuff figured out,” said Forbes. “We have great opportunity here to do a lot of great things.”

The 90,000-acre DRGR was created to limit development and preserve water resources in rural east Lee County. Density is currently limited to one home per 10-acres in the DRGR so that aquifers could be recharged with drinking water.

The water task force group- composed of Bonita Springs residents and an employee of the Conservancy of Southwest Florida- will meet for the second time at 1 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, at City Hall. The meeting is slated to have a presentation from the South Florida Water Management District. The meeting is open to the public.